Chapter Text
The morning after you take your life will start off the same way every morning did for everyone except you.
Your sister will go about her morning, assuming you’re still asleep,
Your mother will make her coffee and read her book just like always,
And your dad will talk on the phone with his friends and watch tv.
They’ll come to wake you up, finally realizing it wasn’t a normal morning.
The cops will come
Then the body bag
Then the certificate, confirming what everyone dreaded.
The morning after you take your life won’t be like any other morning.
Your mother will scream bloody murder,
Your sister will cry until her throat is raw,
And your dad will punch a hole in the wall.
Your friends will text you, wondering why you’re still sleeping.
They don’t know it yet, but you won’t ever get to read those messages.
The morning after you take your life, your mother will text her friend to share with her kids.
The news will spread
Your friends will grieve
And the person who bullied you will make a sappy TikTok about how you left this world too soon.
Your teacher will say your name during role call not knowing you’ll never say “Here” again.
The neighbors will make casserole for your family
Your peers will talk about you
And the story you were writing will sit unfinished.
The morning after you take your life, everyone will wear your favorite color.
Your name will be on the school announcements
Your friends will stay home
And those who didn’t will spend the day with the guidance counselor.
Your best friend will text you before anyone else.
“I know you’ll never see this, but I’m sorry I didn’t help more. I’m sorry that you felt like this was your only way out.”
The girl you haven’t spoken to since 5th grade will wish you’d have stayed in touch
The boy that sat next to you in class will wish he’d have taken the chance to get to know you.
The person that was always too scared to talk to you will wish they’d have gotten over their nerves quicker.
The morning after you take your life, the girl that looked up to you will lose who she considered one of her only friends.
Your phone will be flooded with text messages from people you haven’t spoken to in months
Your friends will have to realize that you’re really gone
And the person that was depending on you to keep them going will lose their sense of purpose.
Your homework will never be turned in.
Your name will forever be in your math book
And you’ll never get to see who you would become.
The morning after you take your life, people who didn’t know you will say you took the easy way out.
But you didn’t.
Your mom will find the stack of letters on your desk for various people that all begin with “I’m sorry.”
Your shampoo will never get used
And people who knew you will say “I wish I’d done more”
The weeks following the morning after you took your life will be filled with grief and realization.
Your sister will realize you’ll never play with her again
Your friends will realize you’ll never break the silence with a joke again
And your grandma will realize you’ll never stay over again.
Your cousin that saw your potential will never watch you succeed
Your best friend will never get to hug you
And the person who always liked you but never said it will never get the chance to ask you to the school dance.
Suicide isn’t “the easy way out.” It’s bloody and gorey and preventable if people pay attention. The morning after someone takes their life is like any other morning until it isn’t. Someone's best friend is texting them, wondering why they’re still sleeping. Someone’s name is on the school announcements. And someone has a pair of sneakers hung on a telephone wire in their memory. Not everyone’s tomorrow is promised.
Before you think of taking your life, tell your best friend your favorite dessert recipe.
Have a sleepover with them.
You'll crack jokes, bake, stay up way too late, cry to her about your problems, and laugh until your stomach hurts.
They'll tell you they’re always here for you.
Before you think of taking your life, tell someone how you really feel about them.
Tell them your favorite phrase they say, your best memory with them, and how much they mean to you.
Before you think of taking your life, tell the person you’ve liked since 6th grade how they make you feel.
Talk to the boy that sits next to you, reach out to the girl you haven't spoken to since 5th grade and make new friends that understand you.
Because nobody’s tomorrow is promised.